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NL Government Must Deliver Justice to Asbestos Miners

ST. JOHN'S, Nov. 18, 2013 /CNW/ - The Newfoundland and Labrador
government must take immediate action to ensure fair compensation for
the health problems suffered by former asbestos miners and their
families, a new advocacy group says.

If necessary, the government should pass emergency legislation to ensure
justice for former miners and their families, says the Baie Verte
Asbestos Miners Campaign, which includes former asbestos miners,
workplace health and safety researchers and labour activists.

"The Baie Verte Miners Registry must not be put on the shelf. It must be
used as an instrument to help deliver justice to former miners, their
families and communities," the advocacy group states in a letter
delivered today to Premier Kathy Dunderdale, Dan Crummell, Minister
Responsible for the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation
Commission and to Leslie Galway, the commission's chief executive
officer.

The Baie Verte Miners Registry, completed and released earlier this
year, "confirms that most Baie Verte miners received more exposure to
asbestos fibres in a matter of months than the law permits for a
lifetime," the advocacy group states in its letter.

"Yet only 36% of registrants with medically verified asbestos-related
diseases who made claims for compensation were successful," the letter
states.

Dr. Paul Demers, a leading authority on occupational cancers and a
member of the Baie Verte Registry's scientific team, advised the
Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission in September that
such extremely high levels of exposure should lead it to a "presumption
of acceptance" for compensation claims. These include claims for all
asbestos-related diseases, including gastro-intestinal cancers and
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

The Baie Verte Asbestos Miners Campaign is now calling on the commission
to take steps to implement key findings of the registry project,
including:

Immediately exempt all former employees of the Baie Verte asbestos
operations from restrictions on the recognition of a claim for
asbestos- related diseases;

Publicize this exemption;

Provide resources for former miners who are not registered to register
their medical and employment records and receive the appropriate
exposure assessment;

Accept applications to reconsider previous claims from Baie Verte
miners, based on the new exemption;

Ensure adequate resources for the Office of the Workers' Advisor to
assist Baie Verte miners;

Support a screening program for former workers and their families, to
reduce the risk and the consequences of further incidence of
asbestos-related diseases.

"In the event that these changes to commission policy and practice
cannot be made expeditiously, we call upon the Legislature to pass
emergency legislation to make it happen," the Baie Verte Asbestos
Miners Campaign letter states.

The letter also has been delivered to Leader of the Opposition Dwight
Ball and New Democratic Party Leader Lorraine Michael and will be
provided to all Members of the House of Assembly.